A few months ago, I wrote about a commission that went wrong (link). Today, I want to share a very contrasting story. When a commission works well, the work can create such a powerful and emotional connection that it can be overwhelming. Two years ago, I was contacted by Michael in California who wanted to commission me a piece for his wife Meghan, a huge fan of my work. The painting was intended as a surprise gift for her birthday two years later — the guy really planned ahead! A year after this initial contact, I finally had more time to work on it. We agreed on a portrait of three people. One of Bam (Meghan’s grandmother), Cecile (her mother) and Meghan herself. Bam is a nickname. It was given by Meghan as a child and comes from her incapacity then to pronounce “Gram” for Gramma. The name stuck. I understood that Bam had to be the central figure here. First, she’s 95 years old now, which is an accomplishment in itself. But also, this woman is very curious and informed and has lots of stories to tell about her travels and her relatives. She lived a life rich in adventure and continues to stay in touch with people she likes by writing emails every day. I felt like my painting had to be a tribute to Bam and attempt to show the transmission of her spirit through the generations of her daughter and granddaughter. It wasn’t an easy task. How do you picture something so intangible? Michael sent me a lot of photos and I really loved one where Bam is leading the way and staring to the right outside the frame with Cecile on the left. I learned that this photo had been taken at Meghan’s wedding and that Bam was looking at her at that moment. It made perfect sense. In my painting, I added Meghan in between the two women. I painted her in a softer style, without impasto, to accentuate her dream-like quality and to set her in a different space — almost an imaginary one — a bit like the bather in the background of Manet’s Déjeuner sur l’herbe. It’s a bit as if Meghan is Bam and Cecile’s shared dream made reality. 👉 Continue reading by clicking the link in my profile. (à La Jolla, Calif.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEosOQrHhTv/?igshid=1bv6v1gedi92w
